Rear Engine Camshaft Gaskets

[gamellott]

Long Story Short, The gaskets on the back side of the heads where the camshafts are inserted into the heads are leaking. I cheeped out and I reused the old ones when I replaced the head gaskets and now that I have identified where the current leak is from, I don't have faith that they're going to hold on in the long term and I want to replace them. I imagine that could be catastrophic to the heads if those gaskets outright fail.

 

I have the new gaskets, but I was wondering if anyone has experience in replacing those with the transmission out with the intake removed. I do have a new head gasket set, but taking the heads off is a pretty serious undertaking. I've done it  I'm game to pulling the transmission since those seals are almost the last remaining leakers that I have on the vehicle, and I have no idea what condition the clutch is in. I just know that it still works. 

 

Thoughts, Recommendations?

[Slartibartfast]

I'll bet you could get to those bolts with just the upper intake removed. I recently replaced my knock sensor (which I had previously relo'd to the back of the driver's side head, inboard of the cam cover plate) without pulling the intake. If I could get to that, I'll bet you can get to these. With the intake out of the way, you might even be able to see what you're doing.

[adamzan]

You could get to them with the trans off, that's a lot of work but if you have other leaks, might be the best 2 birds with 1 stone approach.

 

Here's what mine looked like when I pulled the transmission on my old 1994 to replace with an Xterra trans. You can see there is some decent room there: